OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Wahiawa, HI 96786

Wahiawa: median income $85,554, home value $807,900, $511/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Anaheim, CA 92802 88%2,580$84,419$790,600$546 older homes
Spring Valley, NY 10977 85%4,953$74,451$649,700$403 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · more homeowners
Imperial Beach, CA 91932 84%2,615$85,833$856,900$587 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · older residents
Anaheim, CA 92806 84%2,583$97,265$837,900$573 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
El Cajon, CA 92020 83%2,625$76,032$813,100$522 older residents · more homeowners
San Diego, CA 92105 83%2,617$68,563$635,600$595 cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger · more walkable
Anaheim, CA 92805 83%2,581$91,252$736,600$541 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · older residents
Dallas, TX 75220 82%3,790$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($308K less)
Escondido, CA 92025 82%2,622$81,106$827,900$479 older residents · more homeowners
Oceanside, CA 92058 82%2,605$69,970$670,200$520 cheaper homes ($138K less) · newer homes
Concord, CA 94520 81%2,421$82,479$601,000$468 cheaper homes ($207K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Vista, CA 92083 80%2,612$86,974$658,200$528 cheaper homes ($150K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Riverside, CA 92507 80%2,614$75,303$536,900$358 cheaper homes ($271K less) · larger
Hawthorne, CA 90250 79%2,557$78,331$874,600$722 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92102 79%2,615$77,248$750,000$688 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents · more walkable
Anaheim, CA 92801 79%2,578$83,725$691,400$552 cheaper homes ($117K less) · older residents · more walkable
San Jose, CA 95116 79%2,418$85,818$860,900$635 pricier homes ($53K more) · older residents · more walkable
Long Beach, CA 90804 78%2,567$71,614$736,000$568 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Ontario, CA 91764 78%2,599$81,762$565,800$456 cheaper homes ($242K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
San Diego, CA 92115 78%2,619$79,199$799,200$585 larger · more walkable
Gardena, CA 90247 77%2,559$77,333$659,100$453 cheaper homes ($149K less) · older residents
Port Hueneme, CA 93041 77%2,512$90,592$586,600$465 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller · older residents
Seaside, CA 93955 77%2,407$85,282$788,300$667 older residents · more single-family homes · more walkable
Rohnert Park, CA 94928 77%2,395$99,280$666,000$413 cheaper homes ($142K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Buena Park, CA 90621 76%2,577$97,612$832,000$556 older residents · 6 min longer commute · more walkable

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.